2025/26 Budget Consultation

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Welcome to this consultation on Ashford Borough Council's 2025/26 Budget.

We are now seeking your views on this proposed draft budget. This consultation provides an important opportunity for residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to share their views on the Council’s spending priorities. The feedback we gather during this consultation will inform the final 2025/26 budget and help shape our future financial planning.

The Council is committed to ensuring that its resources are allocated effectively to meet the needs of our community while adhering to its statutory duty to set a balanced budget each year. This requires us to carefully balance our spending plans within the financial constraints we face, ensuring that the services we deliver are sustainable.

On the 12 of December, the Cabinet presented its draft budget for the upcoming financial year. This draft budget has been balanced using £188,170 from the Council’s reserves. The use of reserves ensures we can continue to provide essential services while managing growing pressures from rising costs and increasing demand. To help us plan for the future we would like to hear your views on which services you would like us to prioritise.
As part of this consultation, it is important to distinguish between statutory services and discretionary services.

Statutory services are those the Council is legally required to provide to a certain standard, with fees for these services often set by the Government. Examples of statutory services at Ashford Borough Council (ABC) include Planning and Building Control, Waste, Recycling and Street Cleaning Services, Homelessness, Environmental Health and Licensing, and Committee and Member Services.

Discretionary services are those the Council chooses to provide and has the flexibility to increase, reduce, or withdraw depending on available resources and community needs. Examples of discretionary services at ABC include Climate Action initiatives, Grounds Maintenance, Planning Enforcement, Community Safety and CCTV, Economic Development, Parks and Playgrounds, and the management of Heritage Assets.
Your feedback on discretionary services will help us understand what is important to you. Below is a list of discretionary services that are covered in our 2025/26 Budget, please click each service to see further details.
Grants to Organisations ▼
We currently fund a number of organisations that support meeting our objectives for the borough. These include Ashford Advice, Ashford Mediation Service, Revelation St Mary’s, Sk8side, and Ashford Volunteer Centre.
Climate Action ▼
We have a programme of projects to help us meet our target of net carbon zero. We have been successful in attracting external funding to support parts of the programme and the Council also contributes budget directly.
Planning Enforcement ▼
Our dedicated team for Planning Enforcement investigates and takes action in cases where there has been a breach of planning control.
Economic Development ▼
Ashford’s Economic Development department looks at planning and supporting growth in the area for local and incoming business.
Grounds, Parks and Play ▼
The Ground Maintenance team provides landscape management of the green spaces to include pre-planned and reactive maintenance across the Borough, as well as the maintenance of play parks under our responsibility. We are responsible for the maintenance of Victoria Park, Memorial Gardens, Vicarage Field and Queen Mother's Park.
Community Safety (Including CCTV Monitoring) ▼
Monitoring and running of the Ashford Monitoring Centre which offers 24 hour CCTV monitoring. This area also includes the emergency planning and emergency response team.
Civic and Ceremonial ▼
The Council’s Mayor is supported by a small office and budget to assist their work to promote civic life in the borough and raise money for their chosen local charity each year.
Heritage Assets ▼
The council is responsible for a number of assets across the borough such as the Mk 1V Tank, Woodchurch and Willesborough Windmills, Doctor Wilkes Hall, Hubert Fountain in Victoria Park, Mayor’s regalia, Friendship Stone and Queen Marie Statue.
Consultation

Through this consultation, we aim to ensure transparency and give everyone a voice in the budget-setting process. By reviewing the proposals and sharing your views, you can help us develop budgets that are balanced, sustainable, and focused on delivering the services and outcomes that matter most to you. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and using your feedback to make informed and effective decisions for the future of our community.

We ask that feedback is received by Friday 31 January 2025.
Welcome to this consultation on Ashford Borough Council's 2025/26 Budget.

We are now seeking your views on this proposed draft budget. This consultation provides an important opportunity for residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to share their views on the Council’s spending priorities. The feedback we gather during this consultation will inform the final 2025/26 budget and help shape our future financial planning.

The Council is committed to ensuring that its resources are allocated effectively to meet the needs of our community while adhering to its statutory duty to set a balanced budget each year. This requires us to carefully balance our spending plans within the financial constraints we face, ensuring that the services we deliver are sustainable.

On the 12 of December, the Cabinet presented its draft budget for the upcoming financial year. This draft budget has been balanced using £188,170 from the Council’s reserves. The use of reserves ensures we can continue to provide essential services while managing growing pressures from rising costs and increasing demand. To help us plan for the future we would like to hear your views on which services you would like us to prioritise.
As part of this consultation, it is important to distinguish between statutory services and discretionary services.

Statutory services are those the Council is legally required to provide to a certain standard, with fees for these services often set by the Government. Examples of statutory services at Ashford Borough Council (ABC) include Planning and Building Control, Waste, Recycling and Street Cleaning Services, Homelessness, Environmental Health and Licensing, and Committee and Member Services.

Discretionary services are those the Council chooses to provide and has the flexibility to increase, reduce, or withdraw depending on available resources and community needs. Examples of discretionary services at ABC include Climate Action initiatives, Grounds Maintenance, Planning Enforcement, Community Safety and CCTV, Economic Development, Parks and Playgrounds, and the management of Heritage Assets.
Your feedback on discretionary services will help us understand what is important to you. Below is a list of discretionary services that are covered in our 2025/26 Budget, please click each service to see further details.
Grants to Organisations ▼
We currently fund a number of organisations that support meeting our objectives for the borough. These include Ashford Advice, Ashford Mediation Service, Revelation St Mary’s, Sk8side, and Ashford Volunteer Centre.
Climate Action ▼
We have a programme of projects to help us meet our target of net carbon zero. We have been successful in attracting external funding to support parts of the programme and the Council also contributes budget directly.
Planning Enforcement ▼
Our dedicated team for Planning Enforcement investigates and takes action in cases where there has been a breach of planning control.
Economic Development ▼
Ashford’s Economic Development department looks at planning and supporting growth in the area for local and incoming business.
Grounds, Parks and Play ▼
The Ground Maintenance team provides landscape management of the green spaces to include pre-planned and reactive maintenance across the Borough, as well as the maintenance of play parks under our responsibility. We are responsible for the maintenance of Victoria Park, Memorial Gardens, Vicarage Field and Queen Mother's Park.
Community Safety (Including CCTV Monitoring) ▼
Monitoring and running of the Ashford Monitoring Centre which offers 24 hour CCTV monitoring. This area also includes the emergency planning and emergency response team.
Civic and Ceremonial ▼
The Council’s Mayor is supported by a small office and budget to assist their work to promote civic life in the borough and raise money for their chosen local charity each year.
Heritage Assets ▼
The council is responsible for a number of assets across the borough such as the Mk 1V Tank, Woodchurch and Willesborough Windmills, Doctor Wilkes Hall, Hubert Fountain in Victoria Park, Mayor’s regalia, Friendship Stone and Queen Marie Statue.
Consultation

Through this consultation, we aim to ensure transparency and give everyone a voice in the budget-setting process. By reviewing the proposals and sharing your views, you can help us develop budgets that are balanced, sustainable, and focused on delivering the services and outcomes that matter most to you. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and using your feedback to make informed and effective decisions for the future of our community.

We ask that feedback is received by Friday 31 January 2025.
Page last updated: 19 Dec 2024, 04:21 PM